pyOpt was inspired by a python wrapper script for the Sparse NOlinear OPTimizer (SNOPT)
created by Professor Joaquim Martins in 2000. The project started in 2008 as an
after-hours project by the main developers while they were at the University of Toronto
Institute of Aerospace Studies MDOLab directed by Professor Martins, which is acknowledged
for his support during the genesis of the framework development as well as his subsequent
encouragement and ideas. During 2009, the developers continue active development of the
framework at the Royal Military College of Canada, Aircraft Design Lab, with contributions
and feedback from student at the MDOLab. The first private alpha version of the framework
was released in mid 2009. The framework scope, it functionality, and the number of available
optimizers was further extended leading to the first private beta release in early 2010.
Version 1.0 released publicly in February 2011.